FX Returns on mixer

[shem]

Hello everyone, life is good and it sure is fun to make music and record it huh? Well I am still wondering about something though, I have a Soundtracs mixer and a korg am8000 fx. Now when I send the signal from my aux. on the mixer to the fx unit with one cord, and then from the fx unit send two cords(stereo) back to the fx return plugs in the mixer, it wont work, i dont hear anything, i can however send the fx into a normal stereo channel and mix the fx in that way but im wondering if that will diminish the sound quality in the end. Any ideas are appreciated as i have stopped trying to quess myself. Thanks!

 

[Tekker]

Check and make sure that your "aux return" volume is turned up, not the one on the channel strip (under the EQ) that says aux this is the "send" volume, (and we already know this is turned up because there's sound going to the effects unit, it's just not coming back) the aux return will be in the right hand section above/near the master faders.

There's nothing wrong with bringing it back to another channel, this is actually a good way to do it, because it gives great flexibility. One example is if you're mixing a stereo chorus (especially), reverb, delay, ect....bring the stereo effect back onto "two different" channels (one for the right return and one for the left return) and pan the the channels R/L, now you can control the levels and EQs individually for the right and left returns. But if you don't have the channels free for this then you can use the aux returns instead.

Hope this helps.

-tkr

 

[shem]

Thanks for replying, yeah i checked the fx returns vol. besides the aux. vol in the strip, thats not it either, im wondering if there is a problem with the mixer. Oh well if you think its not going to diminish the sound and in fact give me greater flexability, then hey why mess with it right? Thanks

 

[Tekker]

What mixer are you using?

It will make a little difference just because it is running through the preamp, EQ and the rest of the circuits inside the mixer "again", but it shouldn't make enough difference to worry about really. You should however still try to find out why the aux returns are not working just incase you ever need them. Which aux return are you going into? And does that aux return have to be routed to the main mix? On my mixer, aux return 1 is permanently assigned to the main mix, but aux return 2 has to be assigned to the main mix (it can also be assigned to the monitor/headphones output) by pressing a botton that says 2-TK (2-Track) to mix. Try that out and see if that's the problem.

-tkr

 

[shem]

Tekker, I have the soundtracs "topaz" 12-4 mixer, there are two aux. outs aux 1 is either pre or post and 2 is post mix. There are two buttons im not sure of and the manual isnt specific But they say fx 2 or tape and the other says pre/post for the aux. 1 . Im wondering if the "stereo 2 track" mains out have anything to do with this problem of mine? Otherwise the only problem i have seen from "re-mixing is that the guitar input has to be turned down so i can hear more of the fx in the final mix.

 

[Tekker]

There are two buttons im not sure of and the manual isnt specific But they say fx 2 or tape and the other says pre/post for the aux. 1 .

That's on the channel strip right? Check in the main section (should be right by the aux return volume) there should be something over there about routing aux returns to the main mix (or something like that). Also check the manual for the "aux returns" and see if it helps any.

I tried to do a little bit of searching for the topaz online last night (for the little bit I was able to get on) and I couldn't find any good up close pictures to where I could read what the knobs said, I did find some good reviews and stuff but they didn't exactly go into how you route in the aux returns.

-tkr